The Book Thief

May 13, 2008 Tamara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crowd-pleasers, top-10, teen, fiction

I give this 5 stars, BUT there is a disclaimer: If you want a fast read, this book is not for you. If you only like happy endings this book is not for you. If you don't like experimental fiction, this book is not for you.

If you love to read and if you love to care about the characters you read about and if you love to eat words like they're ice cream and if you love to have your heart broken and mended on the same page, this book is for you.

This story is narrated by Death during World War II,...more

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Oct 19, 2009 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2008, favourite, historical-fiction, magical-realism, made-me-cry, cover-love

This is a book to treasure, a new classic. I absolutely loved it.

Set in Germany in the years 1939-1943, The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel, narrated by Death who has in his possession the book she wrote about these years. So, in a way, they are both book thieves. Liesel steals randomly at first, and later more methodically, but she's never greedy. Death pockets Liesel's notebook after she leaves it, forgotten in her grief, amongst the destruction that was once her street, her home, and car...more

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May 14, 2010 La Petite Américaine rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: This is such a piece of steaming dog shit that I'd recommend it only to people I REALLY hate.

Shelves: worst-garbage-i-ve-ever-read, sucked, i-want-my-money-back, rants

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
This was the biggest piece of garbage I've ever read, after The Kite Runner. Just as with The Kite Runner, I'm (somewhat) shocked that this book is a bestseller and has been given awards, chewed up and swallowed by the literary masses and regarded as greatness. Riiiight.

The whole thing can be summed up as the story of a girl who sometimes steals books, coming of age during the Holocaust. Throw in the snarky narration by Death (nifty trick except that it doesn't work), a few half-assed drawings...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Nataliya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who have their handkerchiefs/Kleenex box handy

Recommended to Nataliya by: Mark Oshiro's blog

Shelves: favorites, awesome-kickass-heroines, excellent-reads, 2011-reads, for-my-future-hypothetical-daughter, 2012-reads

Wow. Words cannot describe how much I loved this book, what impact it had on me. But, like Liesel, words is all I have, so I will have to try.

This is a lyrical, poignant, heartbreaking, soul-shattering story disjointedly told by a nearly-omniscient, fascinated by humans narrator - Death. (***I must confess that I kept imagining Death as the small-caps speaking Grim Reaper from Pratchett's Discworld, baffled by humans and loving cats and curry. Don't judge me - I needed a glimpse of fun in the bl...more
Wow. Words cannot describe how much I loved this book, what impact it had on me. But, like Liesel, words is all I have, so I will have to try.

This is a lyrical, poignant, heartbreaking, soul-shattering story disjointedly told by a nearly-omniscient, fascinated by humans narrator - Death. (***I must confess that I kept imagining Death as the small-caps speaking Grim Reaper from Pratchett's Discworld, baffled by humans and loving cats and curry. Don't judge me - I needed a glimpse of fun in the bleakness of Zusak's story.*** ) Death has plenty to keep it busy, as the story is set in Nazi Germany during World War II.

""Please believe me when I tell you that I picked up each soul that day as if it were newly born. I even kissed a few weary, poisoned cheeks. I listened to their last, gasping cries. Their vanishing words. I watched their love visions and freed them from their fear.""

And yet he becomes strangely fascinated with one particular human, the titular book thief, a young German girl Liesel Meminger, whose childhood is marked by war, who learns to read and love and treasure books, who has her small rebellions against the force of society, who learns to love and be loved. Who has to learn to lose what she loves. Because the world is baffling, because it is a cruel place, because often it tries to stomp out love and beauty.

"I guess humans like to watch a little destruction. Sand castles, houses of cards, that's where they begin. Their great skills is their capacity to escalate."

The book is beautifully surreal, with the masterfully written language reflecting the alien, non-understandable, strangely fascinating nature of the narrator - Death. It is the mix of colors and strange metaphors, semi-dictionary entries and frequent strange asides, with skipping time, with complete disregard for spoilers.

"Of course, I'm being rude. I'm spoiling the ending, not only of the entire book, but of this particular piece of it. I have given you two events in advance, because I don't have much interest in building mystery. Mystery bores me. It chores me. I know what happens and so do you. "

It will note the strangest things, ruminate about the weirdest subjects, and casually in the middle of a lyrical passage, omnisciently will tell us that terrible things are about to occur. It is its job to know, after all. And this prescience does not soften the blows when they finally come; it only brings anticipatory dread and loving appreciation for things and people while they still ARE.

"(view spoiler)."

Love. Beauty. And books. This is what the story set against the terrible backdrop of war is about. Zusak accomplished a difficult feat - making me ache for the children of the enemy, the children and people of Nazi Germany, because even when caught in the middle of destruction, even ending up on different sides of artificial barricades people are still people, still deserving of love, still beautiful.

This book is the ode to those who kept their humanity in the middle of war, who were so human that nothing could ever change that. Rudy Steiner, the boy with the "hair the color of lemons", who has so much love and integrity and life (view spoiler), who was by Liesel's side since the beginning of their friendship - "A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship." - Rudy, who dreamed about the kiss from Liesel (view spoiler)

"He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It’s his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry."

Hans and Rosa Hubermann, who possessed so much integrity and courage, who became real parents to Liesel, who risked everything for what they thought was right. Max Vandenburg, the Jewish fistfighter, who dreamed of battling Hitler and gave Liesel the perfect gift with everything he had.

"[...] Papa, you saved me. You taught me to read. No one can play like you. I'll never drink champagne. No one can play like you."

"Make no mistake, the woman had a heart. She had a bigger one that people would think. There was a lot in it, stored up, high in miles of hidden shelving. Remember that she was the woman with the instrument strapped to her body in the long, moon-slit night.""

And Liesel herself, lost and broken, but finding comfort and strength in family, friends, and books. Liesel, who learns more about the cold cruelty of this world than most children should ever know. Liesel, who learns to read from the Gravedigger's handbook, who rescues the book from fire, who would rather steal books than food, who is not afraid to show kindness in the face of very real threat, who finally gives Rudy that overdue kiss, who fascinates even Death itself. All of them remained human despite the circumstances, despite the pressure to do otherwise, despite anything. And I love them for that.

This is a wonderful, lyrical, surreal, excellent book that broke my heart into tiny little pieces and yet gave me hope that even in the worst of times we can find beauty. 5 stars is not enough, but this is all I can give.

"I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right."

-----------------
DISCLAIMER: This is the first review that I've wrote after working four 14-hour days in a row followed by endless reading of textbooks and paperwork, all sore from endless and painful retracting in surgery, having composed this review in my head as a means to not pass out from hunger in the endless surgery. So if something in it seems incoherent - that's why.(less)

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Oct 27, 2011 Maja rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wonders-from-down-under, own-a-dtb, amazing-writing, books-that-changed-me, favorites, made-me-cry, reviewed-in-2011

“When death captures me,” the boy vowed, “he will feel my fist on his face.”
Personally, I quite like that. Such stupid gallantry.
Yes.
I like that a lot.

A few days ago, when I was starting The Book Thief, my mother stopped by and saw the book on my coffee table. Having just read it herself (and knowing me better than anyone else in the world, I might add), she was determined to save me from myself. She did her very best to convince me not to read it. She described in detail the three day long head...more

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Sep 15, 2007 Colleen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who want a fresh angle on the Holocaust.

I put off reading this book for the library book club. Here are my three reasons for doing so:

1) It's a Young Adult Book. I am an Adult. It can't be that good if it's written for young people.
2) It's about the Holocaust, and I think we've all heard enough about that. The author will probably even focus on colors among the grays, as in "Schindler's List."
3) I have WAY too many other books to read.

After avoiding the book for as long as possible, I sat down, hoping to enjoy it enough to gain some c...more I put off reading this book for the library book club. Here are my three reasons for doing so:

1) It's a Young Adult Book. I am an Adult. It can't be that good if it's written for young people.
2) It's about the Holocaust, and I think we've all heard enough about that. The author will probably even focus on colors among the grays, as in "Schindler's List."
3) I have WAY too many other books to read.

After avoiding the book for as long as possible, I sat down, hoping to enjoy it enough to gain some clever comments for the book group.

Turns out, most of my concerns were right. But one other thing was also true: THIS BOOK ROCKS.

The first thing any review will say about this book is that it is narrated by death. So, I might as well get it out of the way. Death, the Hooded One, the Angel of the Night, narrates. He is very busy during the war years, as you might expect. Some people claim this is a mere gimmick, and that the story is strong enough as it is.

I agree that this is a strong story-- it moves like a sailboat on a brisk day-- but I think the choice to tell it through Death was a good one. Death foreshadows constantly, so we know a bit about which of the characters will die. Instead of ruining the shock value, this heightened my anticipation and dread. And isn't that how people feel during war? They know some of them are bound to die. They know they will lose loved ones. It's one long, hellish wait to see how it will turn out.

It's also an unusual take on the Holocaust because it focuses on Liesel, an orphaned German girl living in Hitler's birthplace. Liesel (The Book Thief) and the other characters in this book are rich, interesting, and wily. I say wily because at points in the book you hate them, but they change, and you grow to love them. For instance, Liesel's adopted mother is a foul-mouthed, abusive, sharp woman. (SPOILER--->) When Liesel's adopted father is shipped off to war, however, Liesel creeps through the house to see Rosa sleeping with her husband's accordian strapped around her waist. Rosa's changes prove one of the greatest reasons to read good literature-- to get insight into the type of people we don't usually give a second chance.
(less)

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Mar 23, 2012 Walt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone.

Recommended to Walt by: My Dear Wife

Shelves: young-adult

Bravo Zusak! A standing ovation, a mighty opus. You stood Death on her head, removing her dark cloak and scythe, clothing her with feeling and letting us see she has eyes to see and a heart to feel, and the intellect to narrate a compelling story. I was so glad to find out she has a womb. Out of Death comes Life. She has greater aplomb than Nick in telling about Gatsby.

In the spring of 1968 at age 19, I made my way to Dachau. I lived just south of Munich and the visit to the defunct concentratio...more Bravo Zusak! A standing ovation, a mighty opus. You stood Death on her head, removing her dark cloak and scythe, clothing her with feeling and letting us see she has eyes to see and a heart to feel, and the intellect to narrate a compelling story. I was so glad to find out she has a womb. Out of Death comes Life. She has greater aplomb than Nick in telling about Gatsby.

In the spring of 1968 at age 19, I made my way to Dachau. I lived just south of Munich and the visit to the defunct concentration camp had a haunting effect upon me that will last until Death comes for me and, I believe, beyond (but eternity’s yet another subject; this story was about life.) I went back to Dachau several times, the souls of the living and the dead calling me. As I worked among Germans in nearby Munich, I was surprised to encounter Jews still, or perhaps again, making their home there, so close to Dachau, so soon after Hitler and his henchmen. These early experiences furnished my life with both angst and vision: with angst to recognize the potential for evil within ever human being and with vision to see the possibility for courage and compassion, to pick up a piece of bread to feed a cipher.

And that’s a big part of what The Book Thief does for me: it captures and again reminds me of these viabilities as they play out near Dachau in the heart of World War II’s Nazi Germany in the lives of Liesel and her contemporaries, alive and dead. Death tells Liesel’s tragic yet wonderful, story in order to keep memory alive. In the words of Elie Wiesel, “Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices.” And surely this is Liesel’s story, not Death’s just as Gatsby's isn’t Nick’s. To remind us to stand up wherever tyranny and power put people down.

Zusak took the time and effort to invest the narrative with near perfect words, and wonderful sentences, and great paragraphs, and superb chapters. It would have been too cruel and ironic if the “book thief” had found herself betrayed by the words, sentences, and paragraphs of her story’s teller. Flesh fully clothes each character; conflict, action, and suspense oblige the attention of each reader; and the themes are true consistent throughout, start to finish, and the setting is hauntingly perfect. I hope because of this book I am closer to bending over and picking up some bread to give to a cipher, even if it puts us both at Death’s door.

It is a mighty work.(less)

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Sep 29, 2012 Jason rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-kindle, wine-club, 2012, reviewed

I write this review under severe duress.

Three-star books are always difficult to review, aren’t they? They are difficult for me, mostly because I am so dispassionate about them. It’s much easier to review something you love, or something you hate, rather than something you’ve half-forgotten before you even get to your local library’s return box.

So this book is fine. Fine. It’s the story of a young German girl caught in the path of the advancing Nazi regime during World War II. For many German vi...more I write this review under severe duress.

Three-star books are always difficult to review, aren’t they? They are difficult for me, mostly because I am so dispassionate about them. It’s much easier to review something you love, or something you hate, rather than something you’ve half-forgotten before you even get to your local library’s return box.

So this book is fine. Fine. It’s the story of a young German girl caught in the path of the advancing Nazi regime during World War II. For many German villagers in the late 30s and early 40s, the Third Reich was like a quiet glacier, slowly encroaching on their lives—it moved languidly enough that disaster seemed never truly imminent (there is always plenty of time to get out of the way), yet it had enough momentum to churn to pulp anything that was unfortunate enough to meet its frothing jaws.

What annoyed me about this book, however, was its distracting style of storytelling. It is told from the point-of-view of the Grim Reaper, the personification of death. I would have actually been okay with this except Death is a grating little sonofabitch. He pretends to keep a distance from the German girl whose story he’s telling, representing himself as a disinterested party whose job is simply to harvest souls from their lifeless hosts, but over time he becomes clearly vested in her story, and for this he is a failure. I mean, if death and taxes are the only two things I can count on, and the IRS is a bullshit government arm that can’t find its asshole with a flashlight, then I need to be able to depend on Death not being a loser.

Additionally, I specifically detested the

* * * Things That Irritate Me * * *
1. These interjections.
2. Interjections like these.

interjections, which occur frequently in this novel.

That said, I think this book is important for its one shining success, which is to remind us that civilian populations of even aggressor countries are innocent victims. Try to keep this in mind the next time your idiot friend says something like, “Dude, we should totally just bomb the fuck out of [insert Middle Eastern country here].”

My cousin told me I had to review this book or she would sic the Andover Ladies of Literature on me and I do not wish to scuffle with those broads.(less)

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Jun 26, 2012 Michael Kneeland rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone and everyone

Occasionally, you will read a novel that offers you new ideas about what a novel can actually do, how point of view and voice can be used differently but powerfully, and how characters can be developed to such an extent that they seem more human than those we come into contact with each day. This seems to be the case with Markus Zusak's 2005 novel, The Book Thief. I first read it on a recommendation from a librarian friend, and now find myself talking about it at great length to anyone who will...more Occasionally, you will read a novel that offers you new ideas about what a novel can actually do, how point of view and voice can be used differently but powerfully, and how characters can be developed to such an extent that they seem more human than those we come into contact with each day. This seems to be the case with Markus Zusak's 2005 novel, The Book Thief. I first read it on a recommendation from a librarian friend, and now find myself talking about it at great length to anyone who will listen (if you listen closely, you can hear my students start to groan...until they start reading it, that is). With any luck, I'll get it on my reading list at the school I teach at by next year. It's that kind of good.

The novel centers around the experiences of a young girl in World War II-era Germany. Contrary to my initial prediction, the girl, Liesel, is not Jewish but instead the orphaned daughter of two communist parents who were ostensibly murdered when finally caught by the Nazis. In any event, they never appear, which becomes painfully obvious during one particularly heartwrenching episode. Liesel spends most of the novel in the home of two poor but well-meaning foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, who are patriotic enough not to be arrested, but dissenting enough that Hans has been refused admission to the Nazi party. Thus, through Liesel and the Hubermanns, we get a point of view of Nazi Germany to which we're not readily accustomed: not of the depraved and defiled victims of the Holocaust, nor of the gung-ho fundamentalist "Heil-Hiterl!"ing-every-five-seconds Nazis; but instead of those we rarely if ever hear from, those caught in the uncomfortable and inescapable middle.

Oh, and the narrator.

Zusak manages (ingeniously, I should add) to blend first- and third-person omniscient narrators by making his Death (with a capital "D," as in the Grim Reaper), an intriguing if not entirely surprising choice given the novel's setting. Through Death, we not only get Liesel's thoughts, feelings, and actions ( as well as those of the others who come into the tale on occasion) but also his own: we get to see just how much he hates his job and yet simultaneously sees the necessity of it; we see how he reacts when he comes to collect his quarry (positively tear inducing, as in a sequence near the beginning when he describes what it was like to have to collect the small, limp, and sickly body of Liesel's younger brother); and we get to know some of his curious personality traits (would you ever think that Death would be obsessed with--of all things!--colors?). Zusak's choice of narrator is at once utterly risky and entirely genious--after all, we could have been stuck with a morose and altogether boring narrator. Instead, we have a perfectly round character who seamlessly melds the first- and third-person point of view.

Novelists can have a nasty tendency to develop one or two main characters and leave the rest flat and uninteresting (case in point: essentially anything by the Clive Cussler's and Jackie Collins' of the contemporary scene--they fail to realize that people, not just plot, are interesting; unfortunately, many readers these days fail to realize this too). Zusak seems to suppress this urge however and manages to give us an entire cast of characters--including primary, secondary, and even tertiary characters--who are all very round and therefore very interesting. Take, for instance, the hunched-over old man named Pfiffikus, who at first seems to just be a cranky, foul-mouthed old codger but who we eventually find to be genuinely proud of his heritage. Then there is the Mayor's wide, who appears at first to be a paper-thin cutout of a character until we learn the reason for her projected flatness of character. And we could also discuss Tommy Mueller, a boy from the Hubermann's street who had so many ear infections (and operations on these ear infections) as a younger child that he has since been left with scars and an ever-present twitch.

Think that's a lot of information about a few characters? Here's the kicker: Pfiffikus, the Mayor's wife, and Tommy Mueller are not even main characters! But they were developed believably and interestingly enough so it seems they are, or should be.

This does not by any means imply that the main characters are boring stereotypes: they, too, are strikingly believable, and when the novel is finished, you genuinely feel as though they are people you know (or knew) from your own experiences. That is one of the most glorious aspects of this novel and--when it topples over its devastating denouement--one of the most tragic.

I have gone to great pains in this review to avoid giving away too much of the plot because seeing what unfolds for these people you feel you know is another of the novel's glorious aspects. However, the plot is perhaps the weakest link in the novel's chain. The book is by no means predictable, but the only really eye-opening and fist-slamming-on-the-table event comes at the novel's aforementioned denouement. The rest of the plot does seem to drag a bit in places, but I suppose this comes naturally in the balance when you have such juicy and unforgettable characterization. Actually, that the plot is as good as it is with fantastic characterization like we are presented with is something of a miracle.

In the years to come, this novel will rest on top of professors' shelves and "Best" lists alongside the likes of To Kill a Mockingbird, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Great Expectations. Certainly, you will be hard pressed to find a novel of this caliber much of anywhere on the current scene. Do yourself a favor: eschew The Book Thief's "YA" label and read it like the classic novel is already stands out as.(less)

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Feb 18, 2013 Sophia. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-friends, bilingual, death, flaws-in-the-concept, pretentious-writing, unbelievable, unconvincing-romance, unsatisfaying-ending, clumsy-symbolism, emotional-manipulation, world-war-2, too-cliche, too-many-repetitions, too-long-needs-editing, could-have-been-better, interesting-idea-or-concept, disappointing

THE BOOK THIEF: A Summary.

Liesel: Hi, I'm Liesel. I have no personality, but I'm a cute little girl.

Death: Her name is not Liesel. Her name is THE BOOK THIEF and I shall name her that for the rest of the book.

Liesel: Even though I stole, like, 3 books in total or something.

Death: Shut up, Book Thief.

Rudy: Hello everyone. Have you ever seen a lemon? That's what my hair looks like.

Death: Here is a little information you should know: this books is filled with many interesting facts. Very releva...more

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Jul 19, 2010 Kat Kennedy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People into self-flagellation

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, i-learned-something-new, kat-s-book-reviews, australian-writer

Just to clarify: Yes, I did cry.

I've read a lot of positive and negative reviews for this book. I can see why people wouldn't like it - I really can. Perhaps because I took a lot out of it personally, I found I enjoyed it a lot.

Quick test to see if you'll like this book:

1. Did you like Anne of Green Gables?
2. Can you cope with an off-beat, melancholy, caustic, dead-pan, self-righteous narrator?
3. Do you like words?
(Questions 4-8 were all about what kind of underwear you're wearing so don't worry...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Meg ♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, z-2012-reads, favs

Since there are already so many wonderful reviews for this book I'm going to keep this one kind of short. Most of my friends have already read this book, and may be wondering what little old me could possibly add to the endless stream of praise surrounding this book.

Well, I represent the people who have yet to read this book even though it's been out for almost 6 years, and won quite a few awards. Those of us who never read it despite receiving about 6,532 recommendations claiming "You will love...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Lora rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of Holocaustic fiction

Recommended to Lora by: someone should have!

Shelves: lib-audiobooks, aussies-rock-my-world, favorites, quality-ya-fic

It's probably fair to say that in all the years of Hitler's reign, no person was able to serve the Führer as loyally as me. A human doesn't have a heart like mine. The human heart is a line, whereas my own is a circle, and I have the endless ability to be in the right place at the right time. The consequence of this is that I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both. Still, they have one thing I envy. Humans,...more It's probably fair to say that in all the years of Hitler's reign, no person was able to serve the Führer as loyally as me. A human doesn't have a heart like mine. The human heart is a line, whereas my own is a circle, and I have the endless ability to be in the right place at the right time. The consequence of this is that I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both. Still, they have one thing I envy. Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.

When you decide to write a book, you can never be sure how it will be received. Will people instantly be entraptured by the story your mind has conjured, or will they spit on the cover and rue the day they bought your work? Will any of your books make it on a bestseller list, say, the coveted New York Times? Or, will they end up on a dime store's shelf collecting dust for decades? And, perhaps most importantly, will the words you write touch someone's life at the moment they need it most? Will your story be the balm on a heart that has just been broken? Will a specific sentence from your conscious be the encouragement someone needs to make the toughest decision they've ever had to make?
All dedicated readers know that books - stories - are a powerful thing. They're a relatable friend who'll always be there for you: to comfort, to encourage, to strengthen. This line of thought got me wondering if Markus Zusak had any idea of what a colossal impact his words would have on countless lives.

The Book Thief is the story of Liesel Meminger, a nine-year-old girl whom we shortly see earn her apt epithet. When her adoptive father, Hans Hubermann, begins teaching her how to read, she soon becomes entranced by words and their power. Over the course of several years, Liesel steals many books from the mayor's library as well as other daring locales.
Although Liesel now spends her days trying to discourage Rudy Steiner's interest in kissing her and her nights reading with her papa and listening to him play the accordion, her life before Himmel St. wasn't an easy one. And soon The Book Thief's narrator, Death, lets the reader now that this isn't a story with a happy ending.
But The Book Thief truly is a story of survival in a corrupt world, finding friends and family in unlikely places, and the eventual peace we all hope to find.

I can't imagine a better book to recommend, to give, to receive - than The Book Thief. Liesel's bravery and Hans' dedication to his daughter and Rudy's longing for just one kiss and Death's inner turmoil over the lives he's compelled to take. . . . I'l always remember these characters and their story. I laughed, I cried, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. And I even learned a little German! Mostly curse words, but still.

Equally devastating and unforgettable, The Book Thief is rightfully beloved by many and will be remembered long after my lifetime.(less)

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Jul 12, 2007 Magdalena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: adults (despite its genre in the US)

Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief has one of the most original and striking narrators since Julian Barnes introduced us to the canny perspective of a woodlice in History of the World in 10½ Chapters. There’s no caginess about it. The first word of the first chapter’s title makes it clear that the narrator is a personified Death: the not so grim reaper. Having Death as the narrator for a book set in Germany at the start of World War II starts the book on exactly the right blackly humorous tone which...more Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief has one of the most original and striking narrators since Julian Barnes introduced us to the canny perspective of a woodlice in History of the World in 10½ Chapters. There’s no caginess about it. The first word of the first chapter’s title makes it clear that the narrator is a personified Death: the not so grim reaper. Having Death as the narrator for a book set in Germany at the start of World War II starts the book on exactly the right blackly humorous tone which continues throughout. It’s a very Jewish type of humour. I’m thinking of the classic Borsch belt comedians like Sholem Aleichem, Milton Berle or perhaps even later comedians like Billy Crystal or Woody Allen. As Harvard Professor Ruth Wisse quoted in her Radio National piece on Jewish Humour, Saul Bellow calls “characteristically Jewish” a story in which laughter and trembling are so curiously mingled that it is not easy to determine the relations between the two, or as Death puts it: “A final dirty joke. Another human punchline.” (12) This is part of the power of what Zusak does in The Book Thief.

Although The Book Thief succeeds on the most post-modern of levels, its impact on the reader is as much due to superb old fashioned plot and characterisation as anything else. It is, afterall, simply a beautiful and painful story of a young girl as she deals with an important and tragic point in history. Liesel is nine and her younger brother six, when her mother takes her and her brother to Munich to be given to foster parents. En route her brother dies: “When the coughing stopped, there was nothing but the nothingness of life moving on with a shuffle, or a near-silent twitch. A suddenness found its way onto his lips then, which were a corroded brown colour, and peeling, like old paint.” (20) Liesel is then thrust into a nightmare/dream existance which involves the thieving of a book, the development of a relationship with her foster parents, Rosa and Hans Huberman, and her growing sense of self as she ages during this period. Liesel’s coming of age is a key part of the plot, and it is possible to read the book as simply the story of Liesel. Certainly Liesel’s characterisation is enough to carry the story. When Liesel arrives at the Hubermans she is scared, almost mute, and refuses to get out of the car or into a bath, but we have already begun to love her through the lens of Death’s sympathy

Death’s own role as a character is a strong one, and he hints at a conflicted inner life. In some ways he makes himself a slave of humans – dealing with the impact of their wars and atrocities: “The boss, however, does not thank you. He asks for more.” An afterlife is hinted at very subtly, but never clarified – bodies go cold and melt and sometimes warm again as their souls are gently removed. That’s all the reader gets. The rest is left open to imagination, as is the direction that Death as character might be moving in. He’s allegorical in one sense, but so real in his sensations, longings and emotions, that it isn’t hard to imagine some kind of progression for him. As character, he may not be nice, but he has his charms, as typified by the last line in the book. Death’s most striking punchline is delivered at the very end. And like the best Jewish humour, it works by turning both fear and convention on its head, in this case, making humans the ‘other’ haunting entity. It also places the final spotlight directly on life, and the celebration and triumph of it, even in the face of man-made hatred and horror. The Book Thief is a wonderful book, full of beauty, pain, longing, joy, and sensuality. It never skirts the horror of war, death, or pain, nor does it flinch at the very real tragedy it immerses itself, sometimes graphically, in. But even at its ugliest, this is a story of the beauty and celebration, however fleeting, of human life. (less)

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Jun 13, 2013 Komal Mikaelson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: cover-lust, really-looking-forward-to-this, a-million-stars, ammaaazzziinnggg, beautiful-writing, books-that-stay, cry-fest, deserves-the-hype, doesn-t-get-bettr-than-this, favourite, friendship, man-that-cover, real-world-real-problems, sad-sad-world

*Starts review. Write two lines. Erase the whole thing.*

*Starts again. No idea what to write*

*Wiping tears*

*Staring at the laptop screen, fingers resting on the keys.*

*Should I even write a review?*

*Where's the damn tissue?*

*I should totally write one. If I can write a snarky one, I can sure as hell write a gushing one*

*What would be the point, everyone has already read the book.*

*Does it matter? It's about me and the ~~book~~ masterpiece.*

So, that has been my thought process for the last 15 min. So...more

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Jan 11, 2008 Zannachan rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, general-fiction

I had a hardcover of this book. I no longer have it. I did not even finish reading it, because it irritated me so much and when I asked if it got better no one could convince me that it was worth persevering.

I know that there are many people who love this book, authors who's book I love, readers who's tastes I respect. But I couldn't stand the narrator. Every time the Narrator intruded on the story it felt like exactly that--an intrusion. A lot of people really like the narrator, and I imagine...more I had a hardcover of this book. I no longer have it. I did not even finish reading it, because it irritated me so much and when I asked if it got better no one could convince me that it was worth persevering.

I know that there are many people who love this book, authors who's book I love, readers who's tastes I respect. But I couldn't stand the narrator. Every time the Narrator intruded on the story it felt like exactly that--an intrusion. A lot of people really like the narrator, and I imagine if you did the book would be much more enjoyable to read. As it was I found the writing style consciously "artistic" or "literary" while the characters felt fake, superficial, and mechanical. I was too aware of the mechanics of the story and how he was manipulating the reader--kind of like going to a puppet show and having the puppeteer continually slipping and letting himself be seen. It kept knocking me out of the story.

Holocaust fiction is hard for me to read anyway, because it's an incredibly difficult period of history and human experience to read about. For me to want to read Holocaust fiction, it had better be better than okay, or even good--ti had better be absolutely amazing for me to be willing to put myself through the emotional pain and struggles that are inherent with a holocaust book. Real life is hard enough for me to get upset and stressed out by a mediocre book.

And please don't take that to mean that I only read books that are light and fluffy and safe, because I do read books that are hard, that are sad. But while some people same to take pleasure in reading a book just because it is sad ("Oh, this is a wonderful book! It made me cry!"), I don't enjoy crying in and of itself. For me to read a book that is heart wrenching, it had better offer me something besides an emotional train wreck--powerful characters I really care about, an engrossing story line, some new observation on human existence and human relations, something.

I do not usually read fiction to "learn," per se--that is, if I wanted to learn more about the Holocaust, I'd read non-fiction accounts. I have read non-fiction accounts. I have read a few things of Holocaust fiction as well, and I have read some scholarly work as well. So it doesn't sell me on the book that it is a painful story, that it shows that some Germans were good and how social pressures created the Holocaust. I needed it to be a book about people that really interested me, that I cared about, and instead I was bored with the characters and irritated at the narrator and the obvious manipulations of the author. Instead of getting wrapped into the story, every night I when I was reading it I'd throw it down and vent for a half an hour to my husband about something that annoyed me. After a few nights of this, I realized that unless someone could convince me that the second half of the book was much better than the first that it just wasn't worth my time to finish.

'm not saying it's a bad book. So many people wouldn't love it if it were bad. But it really did not work for me.(less)

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May 15, 2013 Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!* rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!* by: Lots of people

Shelves: 5-star-books, favorites, ooh-pretty-cover, young-adult, made-me-cry, historical-fiction, badass-ladies, romance-done-correctly, surrealism, fantasy, i-think-i-just-peed-myself

Oh, Book Thief …

I first picked up this book when I was 15 years old, after I'd been hearing such glowing reviews of it here on Goodreads. I knew next to nothing about it, besides that everyone seemed to love it so much; I recall seeing a conversation where a bunch of people agreed it was the best Young Adult book ever written. And then I pick it up from the library and it has some review on the front from the New York Times or something claiming this book is "LIFE-CHANGING" or something like tha...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Joyzi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Every living person who can read

Recommended to Joyzi by: Youtube

Shelves: e-book, fiction, ya-books, 5-stars-or-more, reviewed, political-intrigue, favorites, historical-fiction, read-more-than-once, printz, author-aussie, thought-provoking

(courtesy of www.deviantart.com)

Certainly one of the best books that I have read so far. It's heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. It's beautifully written, the descriptions of the skies, people, places are just unique, the descriptions used are not the usual like the author used to say his hair is like lemons, or he has hair like feathers.

The friendship and love story of Liesel and Rudy keep me from reading. It's just so cute and I always smile whenever I have read Rudy saying, "H...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Jenn(ifer) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dark, read-in-2012, holocaust, own

“When she came to write her story, she would wonder exactly when the books and the words started to mean not just something, but everything.”

I get attached to things. Well, not things exactly, more like experiences. Like the first time I heard Neutral Milk Hotel’s ‘In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.” For days I played this music again and again. And again. I rooted down into the place where those songs brought me and wanted to hold on to that feeling as long as I could. Of course that’s not possible...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Emily May rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-na, historical-fiction, 2011, its-me-not-you

sigh. I hate it when this happens, I truly do, it makes me feel wrong inside when everyone else loves a book that I find to be rather underwhelming... I mean, what's wrong with me?? Did I not get it?? Obviously it must be a lack of intelligence or something of that sort because everyone seems to rate this 5 stars, I was looking through my friend reviews hoping that someone would share my opinion at least a lickle tiny bit, and after seeing 5 stars, 5 stars, 4.5 stars, 5 stars... I found Stephen ...more

sigh. I hate it when this happens, I truly do, it makes me feel wrong inside when everyone else loves a book that I find to be rather underwhelming... I mean, what's wrong with me?? Did I not get it?? Obviously it must be a lack of intelligence or something of that sort because everyone seems to rate this 5 stars, I was looking through my friend reviews hoping that someone would share my opinion at least a lickle tiny bit, and after seeing 5 stars, 5 stars, 4.5 stars, 5 stars... I found Stephen's review, thank god for small mercies.

Stephen managed to put into a couple of sentences exactly how I felt about The Book Thief: "I liked the characters, loved the writing and certainly loved the originality of the story. But in the end, I didn't enjoy it as much as I would need to in order to rate it higher." It's that simple.

I can appreciate that Markus Zusak is a very talented writer, some of the sentences he uses are quite beautiful and reminded me of poetry rather than prose. And the story idea? A tale narrated by Death and set in Nazi Germany... original and ominous. But it was the story-telling that never really worked for me. This is one of those incredibly "subtle" books that are told in a series of anecdotes and are meant to cleverly build up a bigger picture... but, the stories just didn't interest me.

I could imagine I was reading a collection of short stories (and not a full-length novel) about playground fights, developing friendships, WWI stories and death. They were supposed to come together and form a novel that is all kinds of awesome at once, but it was so bland. I also think that nearly 600 pages of "subtlety" can make you want to slit your wrists with annoyance... anyone read To the Lighthouse and spend 99% of it just wishing they'd get to the effin' lighthouse?! Well, I did.

I'm giving this book 3 stars for the pretty words and the concept. But other than that this book unfortunately won't stay with me, I find it an easily forgettable novel and I know for that I will probably cause some controversy and no one will ever read my reviews again because I'm clearly an idiot who doesn't appreciate beautiful works of art like this book. It's true, I don't. I'm sorry :(
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Feb 24, 2013 Haleema rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: das-deep, believable-characters, brilliant-story-telling, damn-good-writing, timeless-classics, heart-wrenching, i-am-in-love, wish-i-wrote-this

3.5 stars for the incredible characters and style of writing!

I really did like this book, but I couldn't finish this book! I started this book back in 2011. I read a chapter here and there but I kept returning the book because I would get so distracted by other things. Then I got it in 2012. Same thing happened. Now I finally had the chance of finishing it. However, I just couldn't! I stopped officially reading at page 170. Then I just skimmed the rest of the book to see what happened.

This book...more 3.5 stars for the incredible characters and style of writing!

I really did like this book, but I couldn't finish this book! I started this book back in 2011. I read a chapter here and there but I kept returning the book because I would get so distracted by other things. Then I got it in 2012. Same thing happened. Now I finally had the chance of finishing it. However, I just couldn't! I stopped officially reading at page 170. Then I just skimmed the rest of the book to see what happened.

This book was so long and dragging. Almost 600 pages! I found a lot of parts to be so utterly boring that I skipped ten pages every once in a while. But at times, it felt so special and touching, and then I just thought it was boring! This genre isn't really my favorite either. The setting was super depressing. I mean, Germany, 1939! Phew.

However, I did enjoy many things! I have to admit that the style of writing and choice of narrator were so damn interesting! Zusak blew my mind with his dark, witty writing. I mean, who writes a book narrated by Death?! That's pretty awesome. The imagery and metaphors were so gorgeous and compelling. The characters were also brilliant! They were so well crafted and believable.

And Liesel and Rudy... Oh, geez. Simply thinking about them makes me sob. Their story is so wonderful. Despite the fact that I didn't finish the whole book, I still tried to read all of their adorable parts. And this part:

She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Leisel kissed her best friend, Rudy Steiner, soft and true on his lips. He tasted dusty and sweet. He tasted like regret in the shadows of trees and in the glow of the anarchist's suit collection. She kissed him long and soft, and when she pulled herself away, she touched his mouth with her fingers. Her hands were trembling, her lips were fleshy, and she leaned in once more, this time losing control and misjudging it. Their teeth collided on the demolished world of Himmel Street. She did not say goodbye. She was incapable, and after a few more minutes at his side, she was able to tear herself from the ground.

Wow. Just wow. Their story is truly precious. Definitely my favorite part of the book.

I thought this book was cool and all, but it was just so darn long and slow paced that I couldn't bear it. Maybe next time I'll find the strength to finish it!
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Sep 15, 2012 Leila rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club

The story of Liesel, a young girl in WW2 Germany. Sent to live with a foster family because her mother cannot keep her (for reasons not completely described). During the trip to the foster family her brother dies. The book that she finds in the snow near her brothers grave site is the only connection she feels she still has to her brother. When her foster father finds the illiterate girls book, it begins a relationship between the two of them; the first connection she has to her new family. Nigh...more

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Apr 01, 2008 Lisa Vegan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who appreciates the power of words, those who enjoy reading holocaust era fiction

Shelves: orphaned-and-quasi-orphaned-kids, fiction, gr-groups-buddies, reviewed, bookclub, favorites, novel, historical-fiction, young-adult, books-about-books, gr-author, altta, holocaust

I admit that I am perplexed about why this is considered a young adult novel and not an adult novel that could be read by those 12 and up. The title character is a young girl, but there are plenty of novels written for adults that have young main protagonists. And I have to say that I could have enjoyed it at 12 but perhaps it’s more appropriate for those 14 and up, although that obviously depends on the reader. But I know that I enjoyed it more reading it as an adult than I would have as a youn...more I admit that I am perplexed about why this is considered a young adult novel and not an adult novel that could be read by those 12 and up. The title character is a young girl, but there are plenty of novels written for adults that have young main protagonists. And I have to say that I could have enjoyed it at 12 but perhaps it’s more appropriate for those 14 and up, although that obviously depends on the reader. But I know that I enjoyed it more reading it as an adult than I would have as a young adult. (This book has been on my to-read list for a long time, since before I joined Goodreads, and I am extraordinarily grateful to the Goodreads YA Book Club group for choosing this as the first book read/the April 2008 book, because it’s why I motivated myself to read it at this time, possibly ever given the number of books I want to read. And I’m glad to have the opportunity to “discuss” it with others.)

I have a penchant for reading books about the holocaust, and this is the most unique book about the Nazi era I’ve read; in fact, it’s one of the most unusual novels that I’ve ever read. Although not for the very first time, I was able to feel empathy for and care about the non-Jewish German population during the holocaust era. I really appreciated the viewpoints shown.

This book is lyrical and poetic and powerful, and thankfully at times funny. And I really got attached to many of the characters: Liesel, Hans, Max, Rudy, Rosa, etc., death also actually. But it’s the author’s choice of narrator that elevates the quality of this book. Death is the narrator and, in my opinion, the perfect one, although I’d have never thought of this plot device myself; without Death telling the story I doubt this would have been a 5 star book for me. I loved how all of the characters felt like real people and how they changed, and how my opinions of them then shifted as well. The writing was so full of vivid imagery that I felt as though I was right smack in the middle with the people and place, more so than in most of the books that I read. I loved the books and pictures within the book.

I found it to be both a sad and exhilarating book. Although I got choked up at several points, I did not feel that it was a depressing book. It’s about friendship and love, the power of words, loss and abandonment, that which saves/heals us, and life and death.

And reading the book struck me at the very core of my being. I really identified with Liesel in so many ways. Some of the events of her life felt similar to mine, although most of the details diverged significantly, but the emotional potency imparted in this book felt so real and influential to me.

Death the narrator both drew me in and also gave enough distance from the tale to make the events more bearable.

And I’m really happy that the library gave me the paperback version that contains some discussion questions and an interesting interview with the author.
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Jun 02, 2013 Joyeeta rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, heart-wrenching-moments, i-cried, inspiring-protagonist, realistic, well-written, life-changing-books

“Still, they have one thing I envy. Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.”

A story narrated by 'Death' himself-

Nazi Germany, Hitler's torturous reign, Jews captured & brutally killed!

description

"The Star of David was painted on their doors. The houses were almost like lepers. At the very least, they were infected sores on the German landscape."

1939:

Eleven-year-old girl Liesel Meminger, on the way to her new foster home in Molching, lost her little brother. Her Mama dropped her to Hans

...more

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Jun 24, 2008 Michael rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: couldn-t-wouldn-t-finish

I am apparently one of the few people who just do not see what all of the hype is about on this one. I was really excited to read this after all of the glowing reviews it got, but I was left extremely disappointed. I found the writing stilted and stuttering (hard to stutter in writing, but this book pulls it off), overly sentimental, and heavy-handed on the symbolism.

I also found the author's approach to the story to be just plain gimmicky. The first and foremost gimmick (also see heavyy-handed...more I am apparently one of the few people who just do not see what all of the hype is about on this one. I was really excited to read this after all of the glowing reviews it got, but I was left extremely disappointed. I found the writing stilted and stuttering (hard to stutter in writing, but this book pulls it off), overly sentimental, and heavy-handed on the symbolism.

I also found the author's approach to the story to be just plain gimmicky. The first and foremost gimmick (also see heavyy-handed symbolism) is that the story is narrated by Death. Now, this might work in some books, but not this one. The choice of narrator adds absolutely nothing to the story; it is only a distraction to the reader, and it also encouraged the author to add trite observations about Death's perspective (for example, he doesn't carry a scythe, but likes the human image) that add nothing to the story. If Death here had been given developed personality or a unique perspective, then maybe (and even then it's a stretch) the choice of narrator would have worked. As it is, the story is told almost entirely as though by an omniscient narrator (is Death omniscient?) and we get absolutely nothing from the choice of Death to fill the role. It's a gimmick, and it falls flat.

The other gimmick I found most distracting (these are not the only two, but they are the most egregious) is the repeated use of little newsflash-type, bold and centered notes that appear periodically through the story to highlight some stupid point and add (in the author's mind) dramatic effect. These newsflashes, as I think of them, were irritating and served only to break up the natural narrative flow without adding anything significant. This is another example of the author hitting the reader over the head with his points, rather than trusting his own writing to get the message across. This is another ill-conceived and heavy-handed gimmick intended to correct for a poor narrative.

I think it is telling that while this book gets listed as teen fiction, Zusak actually wrote it for adults. For some reason, it got identified as being for teens when it got marketed in the U.S. (it was written in Australia). It seems to me that the explanation for this change is that the novel feels like it was written by a very immature author, and so the prose does not attain the quality one should expect of adult fiction.

I think good Holocaust stories need to be told, but the Book Thief fails at that endeavor. The story is trite; the narrative is sentimental and uninspired. I recommend that you look elsewhere for something better. If you want something for younger readers, try Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. If you're a bit older, also read Night by Elie Weisel or the Diary of Anne Frank. I might even add in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, to counteract the heavy-handed book-burning theme of the Book Thief. There's plenty more out there that better deserve your time and attention than does this book.(less)

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Feb 18, 2009 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Oh my gosh!!! I am not done with this book, but I just read the chapter where Leisel sees Max marching through the town. I was sobbing uncontrollably...which was very disconcerting to Drew because he is sick and I've been holding him all morning on the couch. He couldn't figure out why I was crying so much!

SPOILER ALERT: Okay, so I've finished the book now, and if I thought the scene with Max was bad, well, obviously I hadn't gotten to the part where Himmel Street was bombed. The scene with her...more

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Jul 26, 2008 Relyn rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Yikes! I didn't like it. So, no one.

Recommended to Relyn by: I've seen it everywhere

7/22/08
I have seen this book everywhere. I'm finally ready to sit down and read it. Yippie!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

7/25
OK, I know that almost no one is going to agree with me, but I really didn't like this book. I hear about it everywhere and about how wonderful it is. Not for me. I really thought the narrative device was trite. Death as a narrator? Death, who ate colors and was kind and sympathetic? WHAT?? It just doesn't work for me. Plus, the story line is extremely disjointed....more

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Oct 16, 2008 martha rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: half-abandoned, 2008

Everyone in the whole world seems to adore this book and yet I hate it SO MUCH. The writing style is just SO grating; it took me forever to figure out why, but I think in large part it's because it's 100% telling-without-showing. See, the premise is awesome -- a book set in Germany during WWII, narrated by Death, focusing on the life of one civilian German girl. But Death(/the author) just tells you what everyone's feeling or doing, so the characters are like flat automatons. There's no depth or...more

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Feb 25, 2013 April rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historicals, can-i-write-like-this-please, would-marry-the-author-for-this, favourites, loved, wept-uncontrollably

*This review was written in a darkened room in the early hours of the morning after the shedding of many tears.

In a queer, sultry sort of way I've discerned that almost all of us on here are Book Thieves; we all know the power of words and in so many ways they have all saved our lives.

I have never been reduced to so many anguished tears since a poll of the '100 Best Songs Ever' was broadcast from a local radio station and Nicki Minaj was in the top 40. No, not even then. I was ridden with sorro...more *This review was written in a darkened room in the early hours of the morning after the shedding of many tears.

In a queer, sultry sort of way I've discerned that almost all of us on here are Book Thieves; we all know the power of words and in so many ways they have all saved our lives.

I have never been reduced to so many anguished tears since a poll of the '100 Best Songs Ever' was broadcast from a local radio station and Nicki Minaj was in the top 40. No, not even then. I was ridden with sorrow from both the tale and the mere completion of the tale. This is one of the books that will never escape you; it sinks too deep, like thick tendrils grasping that organ you call a heart. 'The Word Shaker' started me off, and by the end I was weeping into my fluffy pillows. Not to mention Zusak’s writing… I can’t even articulate how beautiful he writes.

The thing I adored most about this story is the utter captivation of storytelling. Zusak seems to tell us more than what we see on the page regarding the ultimate power and impact words can have, and he does so with masterly perfection. He weaves us into Death's tale of this small young girl named Liesel who undergoes such tragedy and finds her life is somewhat saved by her love of words and fondness for stories. It’s also very notable how these people Zusak tells us of are primarily German people; they’re not Jews. They were German people victim to many things yet still with good spirit (Hans Hubermann is a human being that everyone should aspire to be). It’s a welcome difference to a story about Jewish victims of Nazi Germany as it shows the heart of German people who longed to help them, as opposed to the idiotic and narrow-minded assumption that everyone in Germany applauded what was going on or didn’t, for lack of a better word, care.

I also thought Death's perception of life was fantastically devised. Who thought that Death would be the perfect narrator? I sort of saw Death's view as being a stream of kaleidoscopic images blended together, with perhaps the most prominent colour of red 'bleeding' through – during this time especially. I think it's a far more realistic view of Death as well, to be, as he put, 'haunted by humans.' If you had to persistently carry souls around with you, all the while seeing our ugly truths and beautiful idiosyncrasies, you would be. It only makes sense. It gave a far more relatable portrayal of Death than the seemingly evil shadow that people make him out to be. (Quote: "By the way – I like this human idea of the grim reaper. I like the scythe. It amuses me.") Death constantly underestimates and overestimates us because Death sees so many different sides of our souls. It’s also as Zusak mentions in an interview; War is Death’s best friend, so who better to tell a story set in Nazi Germany?

Zusak also mentions in an interview that he did not intend to define his book in terms of audience and where it would be placed on a book shelf; he simply wanted to write someone’s favourite book. That for me he did, so I thank him wholeheartedly. (I also despise him for plucking that much emotion out of me, but this I will overlook). It can be a bit of a slow-paced story for some, but overall Liesel Meminger stole me away very much like those precious little books that gave her hope during her most harrowing times, and I'll love Zusak forever for giving us this bleak yet resplendent story of a Book Thief that is quite pulchritudinously (oh yes, that is a word, and a rather terrific word at that) pervaded and sublimely told.

Also, I'm replicating The Word Shaker story and pasting it onto the pastel walls of my room. It will stay there forever.
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Jun 29, 2008 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Amanda by: Chicks on Lit June 2008 book pick

Shelves: 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 6/09: So far, so slow. Don't get me wrong, I'm really liking it. But I thought it would be a quick read and that I wouldn't have to concentrate at all, but that's not the case. It's stylized, which makes it take longer. And all the colors and images are begging me to drink them slowly, savoring each drop. Not a good book to read on a deadline, or if your brain is fuzzy like mine is these days. I'll keep ya posted...

6/25: Ok, I'm still about 200 pages out from finishing this book. I was a little...more 6/09: So far, so slow. Don't get me wrong, I'm really liking it. But I thought it would be a quick read and that I wouldn't have to concentrate at all, but that's not the case. It's stylized, which makes it take longer. And all the colors and images are begging me to drink them slowly, savoring each drop. Not a good book to read on a deadline, or if your brain is fuzzy like mine is these days. I'll keep ya posted...

6/25: Ok, I'm still about 200 pages out from finishing this book. I was a little hesitant at first--too damn long (550 pages) and I don't like violence, particularly Nazi violence (and civil war violence). But there really isn't any violence, or if there is, I'm too American Television scar-tissued up to notice... Anyway, now I LOVE this book and am well on my way to five-starring it!

Don't let anyone tell you this book is about a little girl growing up in Nazi Germany. This book is about Death, the man. You know, cloak and sythe guy? (Don't tell him I said that.) The book is about Death walking through life, experiencing a horror like no other. And he takes moments to watch this little girl, to let his heart be warmed by her youth and growth.

I hope nothing bad happens.

6/27: Bad stuff does happen. Everyone she knows is obliterated. Jesus (Mary and Joseph). The death chapter at the end (just before the epilogue) takes way too long. Seems like Mr. Zusak got a bit full of himself. Which is a shame because it kinda colors the whole book now. Damn him.

Great book. Loved it! Hated the ending.

6/29: I wish I had reviewed this book before I got to the end. Because the end stole some of the beauty of the writing. For two reasons: 1, because I hate the fact that everyone in the town ended up dead. It's an issue with the storyline, that's all. 2, because Marcus Zusak went on and on and on and on about this death scene. Enough already. Stop with the flowery talk, dude. Methinks you're masturbating a bit.

Because, here's the thing. The rest of the book is flowery talk, too, but it's FANTASTIC! Smells have colors, emotions have scents, visions have texture, and life is three dimensional. That's why I like the book so much. It is alive with human nature. I'm very interested in reading other Zusak--Messenger next, I think.

6/30: Ah-Ha!!!! Epiphany! The reason I don't like the death scene at the end--I kinda thought Death and Liesel would have more interaction. Not that she would physically recognize him or anything, but more similar to the scene where the pilot died and Death said he knew Leisel could "see" him. I wish she could have emerged from the rubble seconds after the bombing and so could have been more present for this HUGE loss! Every other time some event happened, Liesel was there to witness it. The death of her brother; seeing Rudy chase her book down the river; retrieving the book from the fire and noticing the mayor's wife watching. Everything else was NOW. But this one event, was BEFORE. I long for that 'life breath' that I feel throughout the rest of the book.

Also, slightly off-topic side note: I'm glad we got warned about Rudy's death long before it happened. It made me want to savor every single moment he was on the page. I love Rudy.(less)

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